CN107430696B

CN107430696B - IC card reader

Info

Publication number: CN107430696B
Application number: CN201680019002.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 宫泽伸也; 见泽守
Original assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corp
Current assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corp
Priority date: 2015-03-30
Filing date: 2016-03-29
Publication date: 2020-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2036-03-29
Also published as: EP3279835A4; EP3279835A1; CN107430696A; JP6552603B2; JPWO2016158946A1; US10185846B2; WO2016158946A1; US20180341792A1

Abstract

Provided is an IC card reader which can suppress damage to a card due to an IC contact spring when the card is collected and can be reduced in size. In the IC card reader, an IC contact module (10) moves toward a communication position where an external connection terminal of a card (2) is in contact with an IC contact spring (3) and a card discharge position (10C) where the IC contact module (10) is in contact with a stopper (26) and separated from the card (2) in a state where a posture of the IC contact module is kept unchanged. If a card (2) abutting against a rotation stopper (19) of an IC contact module (10) which has moved to a communication position is carried toward the rear side, the rotation stopper (19) is pressed by the card (2), the IC contact module (10) moves to the rear side and from the communication position to a card discharge position (10C), and if a card (2) abutting against a rotation stopper (19) of an IC contact module (10) which has moved to the card discharge position (10C) is carried toward the rear side, the rotation stopper (19) rotates, and the card (2) passes toward the rear side at the lower side of the rotation stopper (10).

Description

IC card reader

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a contact type IC card reader having an IC contact spring which contacts with an external connection terminal of an IC chip formed on a surface of a card.

Background

Conventionally, a contact type IC card reader having a card recovery function of recovering a card into the card reader is known (for example, see patent document 1). The IC card reader described in patent document 1 is provided with a card conveying path for conveying a card inserted from a card insertion port. The IC card reader includes: a card conveying mechanism for conveying the card on the card conveying path; an IC contact spring contacting with an external connection terminal of an IC contact formed on the card; a contact holder holding an IC contact spring; and a tension coil spring for urging the contact holder toward the card insertion port side. The contact holder has: a lifting hook; and a compression coil spring for urging the lifting hook toward the card conveying path. A projection is formed on the contact holder, and the projection is inserted into a guide groove provided in the card reader body.

Further, in the card reader described in patent document 1, a hook lifting member that moves the lifting hook in a direction away from the card conveyance path against the urging force of the compression coil spring is provided in the card reader body. In this card reader, a lifting hook urged by a compression coil spring is disposed at a position where a card conveyed on a card conveying path abuts, and if the card abutting on the lifting hook is conveyed toward the rear side of the card reader, the contact holder moves toward the card conveying path while moving toward the rear side of the card reader by the action of a projection and a guide groove of the contact holder, and the IC contact spring comes into contact with an external connection terminal of the card to perform data communication.

In the card reader described in patent document 1, the card is carried to a position behind the card reader with respect to the contact holder, and the card is collected. When the card is collected, the card is further conveyed toward the rear side of the card reader from a state where the IC contact springs are in contact with the external connection terminals of the card. If the card is further carried toward the rear side of the card reader, the contact holder moves toward the rear side of the card reader, and the lifting hook comes into contact with the hook lifting member. If the lifting hook is in contact with the hook lifting member, the lifting hook moves in a direction away from the card conveying path, and the card can be conveyed to a position behind the contact holder on the card reader. In this state, the card is further conveyed toward the rear side of the card reader, and the card is collected.

Further, a processing apparatus for an IC card is known (for example, see patent document 2). The processing apparatus described in patent document 2 includes: a stacker for stacking and housing cards; a card conveying path for conveying the cards sent from the stacker; a card conveying mechanism for conveying the card on the card conveying path; IC contact spring contacting with external connection terminal of the card; and a contact holder holding the IC contact spring. The contact holder is connected to a parallel linkage having two arms. An extension coil spring that urges the contact holder toward the stacker side is mounted on one of the two arms. The contact holder is provided with a contact portion against which an end portion of the card fed from the stacker comes into contact.

In the processing apparatus described in patent document 2, when a card is fed out from the stacker, the contact portion of the contact holder is disposed at a position where the card conveyed on the card conveying path is brought into contact with.

When a card fed from a stacker is brought into contact with an abutting portion and is further conveyed in a direction away from the stacker, the contact holder is moved in the card conveying direction and in a direction close to the card conveying path by the action of the parallel link mechanism, and the IC contact spring comes into contact with the external connection terminal of the card to perform data communication. In this processing apparatus, if the card is further conveyed in a direction away from the stacker, the contact holder moves in a direction away from the card conveying path while moving in the card conveying direction. If the contact holder moves in a direction away from the card conveyance path, the contact portion of the contact holder also moves in a direction away from the card conveyance path, and therefore the card passes through the portion where the contact holder is disposed, and is further conveyed in a direction away from the stacker.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 10-27220

Patent document 2: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 9-147064

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In the IC card reader described in patent document 1, when the card is collected, the card is further conveyed toward the rear side of the card reader in a state where the IC contact springs are in contact with the surface of the card, and therefore the card is damaged by the IC contact springs. Here, if the contact holder and the parallel link mechanism described in patent document 2 are employed in the IC card reader described in patent document 1, the IC contact spring is separated from the card in accordance with the movement of the card when the card is collected, and therefore, the damage of the card can be suppressed when the card is collected.

However, when the contact holder and the parallel link mechanism of patent document 2 are used in the IC card reader of patent document 1, when the card is collected, it is necessary to move the entire contact holder in a direction greatly away from the card transport path by the parallel link mechanism so that the card can pass through the portion where the contact holder is disposed. Therefore, in the IC card reader, a large space is required for greatly moving the entire contact holder, and as a result, the IC card reader becomes large.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a contact type IC card reader having a card recovery function, which can suppress damage to a card due to an IC contact spring when the card is recovered, and which can be miniaturized.

Technical solution for solving technical problem

In order to solve the above-described problems, a card reader according to the present invention is a contact type IC card reader having an IC contact spring which comes into contact with an external connection terminal of an IC chip formed on a surface of a card, wherein if a side of the IC card reader where an insertion port of the card is formed is a front side, an opposite side thereof is a rear side, a side in a thickness direction of the card inserted from the insertion port is a first direction side, and the opposite side thereof is a second direction side, the IC card reader includes: a card conveying path for conveying the card inserted from the insertion opening; a card conveying mechanism for conveying the card on the card conveying path; an IC contact module having IC contact springs; a guide mechanism for guiding the IC contact module so that the IC contact module moves while keeping the posture of the IC contact module with respect to the card conveyance path; a module force application member for applying a force to the front side of the IC contact module; a first stopper limiting a moving range of the IC contact module to a front side; and a second stopper that restricts a moving range of the IC contact module to a rear side, wherein the guide mechanism guides the IC contact module so that the IC contact module moves to a standby position where the IC contact module is brought into contact with the first stopper and separated from the card arranged in the card conveying path by an urging force of the module urging member, a communication position where the IC contact module is brought into contact with the IC contact spring and the card arranged in the card conveying path, and a card discharge position where the IC contact module is brought into contact with the second stopper and separated from the card arranged in the card conveying path, the IC contact module in the standby position and the IC contact module in the card discharge position are arranged on a first direction side of the IC contact module in the communication position, and the IC contact module has: a block-shaped spring holder for holding the IC contact spring; a rotation stopper which is attached to a rear end side of the spring holder and is rotatable in an axial direction in which a width direction of the card orthogonal to a card conveying direction and a thickness direction of the card is rotated; and a stopper urging member which projects the rotation stopper toward the rotation stopper from the spring holder in the second direction side to urge a lock position of the card conveyance path to be closed, if a rear end of the card conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveyance mechanism abuts on the rotation stopper of the IC contact module at the standby position, the rotation stopper is pressed by the card, the IC contact module moves toward the rear side from the standby position toward the communication position, if the card abutted on the rotation stopper of the IC contact module which has moved to the communication position is further conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveyance mechanism, the rotation stopper is pressed by the card, so that the IC contact module moves toward the rear side from the communication position toward the card discharge position, if the card abutted on the rotation stopper of the IC contact module which has moved to the card discharge position is further conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveyance mechanism, the rotation stopper rotates to the first direction side and the rear side, and the card passes to the rear side and at the second direction side of the rotation stopper.

In the card reader of the present invention, the IC contact module moves, in a state in which the posture of the IC contact module with respect to the card conveyance path is kept unchanged, toward a standby position in which the IC contact module is in contact with the first stopper and separated from the card arranged in the card conveyance path, a communication position in which the external connection terminals of the card arranged in the card conveyance path are in contact with the IC contact springs, and a card ejection position in which the IC contact module is in contact with the second stopper and separated from the card arranged in the card conveyance path. Further, in the present invention, if the card brought into contact with the rotation stopper of the IC contact module moved to the communication position is further conveyed to the rear side by the card receiving conveyance mechanism, the rotation stopper is pressed by the card, and the IC contact module is moved to the rear side from the communication position to the card discharge position. Therefore, in the present invention, when the card is transported to the rear side and recovered, the IC contact spring is separated from the card in accordance with the movement of the card. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to suppress the card from being damaged by the IC contact spring when the card is collected.

Further, in the present invention, an IC contact module includes: a rotation stopper that is attached to a rear end side of the spring holder and is rotatable in an axial direction in which a width direction of the card is rotatable; and a stopper urging member that urges the rotation stopper toward a closed position where the rotation stopper protrudes from the spring holder toward the second direction side toward the rotation stopper to close the card conveyance path, wherein if a card abutting against the rotation stopper of the IC contact module that has moved to the card discharge position is further conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveyance mechanism, the rotation stopper rotates toward the first direction side and the rear side, and the card passes toward the rear side and the second direction side of the rotation stopper. Therefore, in the present invention, as compared with a case where the entire IC contact module is moved and the card can pass through the second direction side of the stopper fixed to the IC contact module as in the processing apparatus described in patent document 2, the card can pass through the rear side of the IC contact module even if the movement amount of the entire IC contact module is reduced. That is, in the present invention, the amount of movement of the IC contact module can be reduced while the card is passed to the rear side of the IC contact module in order to collect the card. Therefore, in the present invention, the space for moving the IC contact module can be reduced, and as a result, the IC card reader can be downsized. That is, in the present invention, it is possible to suppress the damage of the card due to the IC contact spring when the card is collected, and to miniaturize the IC card reader.

In the present invention, the guide mechanism is, for example, a parallel link mechanism having a first arm rotatably connected to the front end side of the spring holder and a second arm rotatably connected to the rear end side of the spring holder.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a fixed stopper protruding in the second direction is formed on the rear end side of the spring holder, the protruding amount of the fixed stopper in the second direction is smaller than the protruding amount of the rotation stopper in the second direction when the IC contact module is at the closed position, the fixed stopper is disposed at a position where the rear end of the card can abut against the fixed stopper when the IC contact module is at the communication position, and the fixed stopper is disposed at a position closer to the first direction side than the card when the IC contact module is at the card discharge position. With this configuration, since the fixed stopper is disposed at a position where the rear end of the card can abut against the fixed stopper when the IC contact module is at the communication position, even if the rotatable rotation stopper is attached to the spring holder in order to miniaturize the IC card reader, the card can be reliably stopped at a predetermined position by the fixed stopper when the external connection terminals of the card are brought into contact with the IC contact springs to perform data communication. Further, if configured as above, the fixed stopper is disposed at the first direction side with respect to the card when the IC contact module is at the card ejecting position, and therefore the fixed stopper does not become an obstacle when the card is passed to the rear side of the IC contact module.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the fixed stoppers are formed on both sides of the rotation stopper in the width direction of the card. With such a configuration, as compared with a case where a fixed stopper is formed on one side of the rotation stopper in the width direction of the card, when the external connection terminals of the card are brought into contact with the IC contact springs to perform data communication, the inclination of the card (specifically, the inclination of the card with respect to the conveying direction when viewed from the thickness direction of the card) can be suppressed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the card conveyance path includes a guide portion which protrudes from the first direction side toward the second direction side and guides the conveyed card, the guide portion is disposed at a position overlapping with the fixed stopper in the card conveyance direction when the IC contact module is at the communication position, an end portion of the guide portion on the second direction side is disposed at a position closer to the second direction side than the end portion on the second direction side of the fixed stopper when the IC contact module is at the card discharge position, and the card passes through the second direction side of the guide portion while the IC contact module moves from the communication position to the card discharge position. With this configuration, the guide portion is brought into contact with the distal end side of the card conveyed toward the rear side from the first direction side while the IC contact module is moving from the communication position to the card discharge position, and the distal end of the card lifted upward by the frictional force generated between the card and the fixed stopper can be pressed toward the second direction side with respect to the second direction side end of the fixed stopper. Therefore, the fixed stopper is more reliably separated from the end of the card as the card moves, and the card can be more reliably discharged to the rear side of the IC contact module.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a roller is attached to a distal end side of the rotation stopper, the roller being rotatable in an axial direction in which the card width direction is a rotation axis. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the card from being damaged by the rotation stopper when the card is collected.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the IC card reader has a card collection box disposed at a position closer to the second direction side than the card conveyance path than the IC contact module, and the rotation stopper presses the card passing through the second direction side of the rotation stopper toward the collection box toward the rear side by the urging force of the stopper urging member. If so configured, the card can be reliably retracted into the recycling bin by the rotation stopper.

Effects of the invention

As described above, according to the present invention, the contact type IC card reader having the card recovery function can suppress the damage of the card due to the IC contact spring when the card is recovered, and can be downsized.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an IC card reader according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the card shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the IC contact module and the parallel link mechanism shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the IC contact module and the parallel link mechanism shown in fig. 3 from other directions.

Fig. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the IC contact module shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation of the IC contact module shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view for explaining the function of the rotation stopper shown in fig. 1.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(schematic structure of card reader)

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of an IC card reader 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the card 2 shown in fig. 1.

The IC card reader 1 (hereinafter referred to as "card reader 1") according to the present embodiment is a device for reading at least one of data recorded on the card 2 and recording data on the card 2. Specifically, the card reader 1 is a contact type IC card reader having an IC contact spring 3 which comes into contact with an external connection terminal 2a of an IC chip formed on the surface of the card 2 in order to perform data communication with the card 2. The card reader 1 of the present embodiment has a card 2 recovery function of recovering the card 2 into the card reader 1 as necessary. The card reader 1 is installed in a predetermined higher-level device (not shown) and used.

The card reader 1 includes: a card reader body 4; and a recovery box 5 for recovering the card 2. The card reader body 4 is provided with a card conveying path 8 for conveying the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 7 of the card 2. The card reader body 4 has: a card conveying mechanism 9 for conveying the card 2 on the card conveying path 8; an IC contact module 10 having IC contact springs 3; and a parallel link mechanism 11 as a guide mechanism for guiding the IC contact module 10. The card reader body 4 includes a magnetic head, not shown.

In the present embodiment, the card 2 is conveyed in the X direction shown in fig. 1 and the like. That is, the X direction is a direction in which the card 2 is conveyed on the card conveying path 8. The Z direction in fig. 1 and the like orthogonal to the X direction is a thickness direction of the card 2 conveyed on the card conveying path 8 (that is, a thickness direction of the card 2 inserted from the insertion port 7), and the Y direction in fig. 1 and the like orthogonal to the X direction and the Z direction is a width direction of the card 2 conveyed on the card conveying path 8. In the following description, the X direction is the "front-rear direction", the Y direction is the "left-right direction", and the Z direction is the "up-down direction". The X1 direction side on which the insertion opening 7 is formed is the "front (front)" side, the opposite X2 direction side is the "rear (rear)" side, the Z1 direction side is the "upper" side, and the opposite Z2 direction side is the "lower" side. In the present embodiment, the card reader 1 is disposed so that the vertical direction coincides with the vertical direction. The upper side (Z1 direction side) of the present embodiment is a first direction side which is one side in the thickness direction of the card 2, and the lower side (Z2 direction side) is a second direction side which is the opposite side.

The card 2 is a vinyl chloride card having a substantially rectangular shape and a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8 mm. A magnetic stripe (not shown) for recording magnetic data is formed on the card 2. The card 2 incorporates an IC chip (not shown), and external connection terminals 2a are formed on the surface of the card 2. As shown in fig. 2, the external connection terminals 2a are formed on one end 2b side in the longitudinal direction of the card 2. The card 2 is inserted into the card reader body 4 from one end 2b side in the longitudinal direction of the card 2 in a state where the surface on which the external connection terminals 2a are formed faces upward and the longitudinal direction of the card 2 substantially coincides with the front-rear direction. In addition, the magnetic stripe may not be formed on the card 2. In this case, the card reader body 4 may not have a magnetic head.

The card conveyance path 8 is formed in a linear shape when viewed from the left-right direction. The card conveyance mechanism 9 has a drive roller 14 and a backup roller 15 that convey the card 2. The driving roller 14 and the backup roller 15 are disposed so as to face each other in the vertical direction. The drive roller 14 is connected to a motor (not shown) for driving via a power transmission mechanism (not shown) such as a pulley and a belt. The backup roller 15 is urged toward the drive roller 14.

The recovery tank 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape having an open upper surface. The collection box 5 is disposed on the rear side of the card reader body 4. The recovery box 5 is disposed below the card conveyance path 8.

(IC contact Module, parallel Link mechanism, and Structure of peripheral portion thereof)

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the IC contact module 10 and the parallel link mechanism 11 shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the IC contact module 10 and the parallel link mechanism 11 shown in fig. 3 from other directions. Fig. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the IC contact module 10 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining the function of the rotation stopper 19 shown in fig. 1.

The IC contact module 10 is disposed on the rear end side of the card reader body 4. The IC contact module 10 is disposed such that the IC contact springs 3 face the card conveyance path 8 from above. The IC contact module 10 includes: a block-shaped spring holder 18 for holding the IC contact spring 3; a rotation stopper 19 rotatably mounted on the rear end side of the spring holder 18; and a torsion coil spring 20 (see fig. 3) as a stopper biasing member that biases the rotation stopper 19.

The parallel link mechanism 11 is disposed above the IC contact module 10. The parallel link mechanism 11 includes: an arm 21, the arm 21 being rotatably connected as a first arm to a front end side of the spring holder 18; and an arm 22, the arm 22 being rotatably connected as a second arm to the rear end side of the spring holder 18. The card reader body 4 includes: a torsion coil spring 24 as a module biasing member for biasing the IC contact module 10 toward the front side; a stopper 25 as a first stopper, the stopper 25 limiting a moving range of the IC contact module 10 toward the front side; and a stopper 26, the stopper 26 serving as a second stopper limiting a moving range of the IC contact module 10 toward the rear side. In fig. 5 to 7, the torsion coil spring 24 is not shown.

The spring holder 18 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape flat in the vertical direction. The spring holder 18 is disposed so as to face the card conveyance path 8 from the upper side. A shaft insertion portion 18a is formed on the upper surface side of the spring holder 18, and a connection shaft 35, which will be described later, constituting a part of the parallel link mechanism 11 is inserted through the shaft insertion portion 18 a. The shaft insertion portions 18a are formed at four positions in total of two positions located on both left and right end side portions on the front end side of the spring holder 18 and two positions located on both left and right end sides on the rear end side of the spring holder 18. The shaft insertion portion 18a is formed to protrude upward.

A projecting portion 18b projecting toward the rear side is formed on the rear end side of the spring holder 18. The protruding portions 18b are formed at two locations on both left and right end sides of the spring holder 18. A fixed stopper 18c protruding toward the lower side is formed on the rear end side of the protruding portion 18b (i.e., the rear end side of the spring holder 18). A front surface 18d (see fig. 4) of the fixed stopper 18c is formed in a planar shape orthogonal to the front-rear direction. A space in which a part of the rotation stopper 19 is arranged is formed between the two protrusions 18b in the left-right direction. That is, the fixed stoppers 18c are formed on both sides of the rotation stopper 19 in the left-right direction. A fixed shaft 30 is fixed to the rear end sides of the two protruding portions 18 b. The fixed shaft 30 is fixed to the protruding portion 18b so that the axial direction of the fixed shaft 30 coincides with the left-right direction.

The rotation stopper 19 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped block shape. The upper end side of the rotation stopper 19 is rotatably held by the fixed shaft 30, and the rotation stopper 19 is rotatable about the fixed shaft 30. That is, the rotation stopper 19 can rotate in the axial direction in which the left-right direction rotates. The fixing shaft 30 is penetratingly inserted into the torsion coil spring 20. The torsion coil spring 20 biases a lock position 19A (positions shown in fig. 5(a), (B), and 6(a)) at which the rotation stopper 19 protrudes downward from the spring holder 18 toward the rotation stopper 19 and closes the card conveyance path 8. That is, the torsion coil spring 20 biases the rotation stopper 19 in the clockwise rotation direction (clock direction) in fig. 5 and 6 about the fixed shaft 30. Further, a stopper (not shown) for restricting a rotation range of the rotation stopper 19 in the clock direction is formed in the spring holder 18, and when the rotation stopper 19 is at the close position 19A, the rotation stopper 19 abuts against the stopper to restrict the rotation in the clock direction.

The amount of downward projection of the rotation stopper 19 when in the closed position 19A is formed larger than the amount of downward projection of the fixed stopper 18 c. That is, the amount of downward projection of the fixed stopper 18c is formed smaller than the amount of downward projection of the rotation stopper 19 in the closed position 19A, and the lower end of the rotation stopper 19 in the closed position 19A is disposed below the lower end of the fixed stopper 18 c. A shaft 31 is attached to the distal end side of the rotation stopper 19. The shaft 31 is disposed such that the axial direction of the shaft 31 coincides with the left-right direction. The roller 32 is rotatably mounted to the shaft 31. That is, a roller 32 rotatable in the axial direction around the left-right direction is attached to the distal end side of the rotation stopper 19. A part of the roller 32 protrudes toward the tip end side of the rotation stopper 19 than the tip end of the rotation stopper 19.

The parallel link mechanism 11 includes, in addition to the

arms

21 and 22 described above: two rotation center shafts 34, the two rotation center shafts 34 being rotation centers of the

arms

21, 22; and two connecting shafts 35, the two connecting shafts 35 being used to connect the

arms

21, 22 and the spring holder 18. The arm 21 is formed in the same shape as the arm 22. The arm 21 has: two shaft mounting portions 21a, the two shaft mounting portions 21a being mounted with a rotation center shaft 34 and a connecting shaft 35; and a connecting portion 21b, the connecting portion 21b connecting the two shaft mounting portions 21 a. Likewise, the arm 22 has: two shaft mounting portions 22a, the two shaft mounting portions 22a being mounted with a rotation center shaft 34 and a connecting shaft 35; and a connecting portion 22b, the connecting portion 22b connecting the two shaft mounting portions 22 a.

The

shaft attachment portions

21a, 22a are formed in a substantially oblong flat plate shape, and are arranged such that the thickness direction of the

shaft attachment portions

21a, 22a coincides with the left-right direction. The two shaft mounting portions 21a are disposed with a predetermined gap therebetween in the left-right direction, and the two shaft mounting portions 22a are disposed with a predetermined gap therebetween in the left-right direction. The rotation center shaft 34 is disposed such that the axial direction of the rotation center shaft 34 coincides with the left-right direction, and the connection shaft 35 is disposed such that the axial direction of the connection shaft 35 coincides with the left-right direction.

The rotation center shaft 34 is attached to one end side of the

shaft attachment portions

21a, 22a, and the connection shaft 35 is attached to the other end side of the

shaft attachment portions

21a, 22 a. Both end sides of the rotation center shaft 34 protrude outward in the left-right direction than the

shaft mounting portions

21a, 22 a. Both end portions of the rotation center shaft 34 protruding outward in the left-right direction from the

shaft mounting portions

21a and 22a are mounted on a frame (not shown) of the card reader body 4, and the

arms

21 and 22 are rotatably held on the frame of the card reader body 4 around the rotation center shaft 34. The connecting shaft 35 is inserted through the shaft insertion portion 18a of the spring holder 18, and the spring holder 18 is rotatably connected to the

arms

21 and 22.

A rotation center shaft 34 attached to the arm 22 is inserted through the torsion coil spring 24. The torsion coil spring 24 biases the arm 22 in the timepiece direction of fig. 5 and 6 about the rotation center axis 34 attached to the arm 22, and biases the IC contact module 10 toward the front side via the arm 22. The

stoppers

25 and 26 are fixed to a frame (not shown) of the card reader body 4. The stopper 25 is disposed at a position where the front surface of the spring holder 18 can abut against, and the stopper 26 is disposed at a position where the front surface of the spring holder 18 can abut against. The stopper 25 may be disposed at a position where the arm 21 can abut. The stopper 26 may be disposed at a position where the arm 22 can abut.

The parallel link mechanism 11 guides the IC contact module 10 so as to move the IC contact module 10 while keeping the posture of the IC contact module 10 with respect to the card conveyance path 8.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, the parallel link mechanism 11 guides the IC contact module 10 so as to move the IC contact module 10 while ensuring a parallel state between the card conveyance path 8 and the spring holder 18 when viewed from the left-right direction.

The parallel link mechanism 11 guides the IC contact module 10 so that the IC contact module 10 moves toward a standby position 10A (a position shown in fig. 5 a), a communication position 10B (a position shown in fig. 5B), and a card ejection position 10C (a position shown in fig. 6 a), where the IC contact module 10 abuts against the stopper 25 by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 24 and the IC contact module 10 is separated from the card 2 disposed in the card conveyance path 8, where the external connection terminal 2a of the card 2 disposed in the card conveyance path 8 contacts the IC contact spring 3 at the standby position 10A, and where the IC contact module 10 abuts against the stopper 26 and is separated from the card 2 disposed in the card conveyance path 8 at the card ejection position 10C.

That is, the IC contact module 10 is guided by the parallel link mechanism 11, and moves up and down while sliding in the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the IC contact module 10 in the standby position 10A and the IC contact module 10 in the card ejection position 10C are arranged above the IC contact module 10 in the communication position 10B. As shown in fig. 5(B), the fixed stopper 18c is disposed at a position where the rear end of the card 2 can abut against the fixed stopper 18c when the IC contact module 10 is in the communication position 10B. As shown in fig. 6(a), the fixed stopper 18C is disposed above the card 2 when the IC contact module 10 is at the card ejection position 10C. That is, when the IC contact module 10 is at the card ejection position 10C, the fixed stopper 18C is disposed at a position not abutting against the rear end of the card 2.

When the IC contact module 10 is in the standby position 10A, the fixed stopper 18c may be disposed at a position where the rear end of the card 2 abuts or at a position where the rear end of the card 2 does not abut.

In the present embodiment, the IC contact module 10 is disposed at the standby position 10A by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 24 during standby before the card 2 is inserted into the card reader 1. In the standby state, the rotation stopper 19 is in the lock position 19A, and closes the card conveyance path 8. In this state, if the card 2 is inserted from the insertion port 7, the card 2 is conveyed to the rear side by the card conveying mechanism 9.

If the rear end of the card 2 conveyed rearward by the card conveying mechanism 9 abuts against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 at the standby position 10A, the rotation stopper 19 is pressed by the card 2, and the IC contact module 10 moves rearward from the standby position 10A to the communication position 10B (see fig. 5 a and 5B). At this time, the card 2 comes into contact with the fixed stopper 18c at least from the middle of the process of moving the IC contact module 10 from the standby position 10A to the communication position 10B, and the fixed stopper 18c is also pressed by the card 2. For example, the card 2 comes into contact with the fixed stopper 18c from the time when the external connection terminals 2a of the IC chip come into contact with the IC contact springs 3, and the fixed stopper 18c is also pressed by the card 2.

When the normal processing is performed in the card reader 1, data communication between the card 2 and the card reader 1 is performed in a state where the IC contact module 10 is at the communication position 10B, and then the card 2 is conveyed toward the front side and discharged from the insertion port 7. If the card 2 is conveyed toward the front side in a state where the IC contact module 10 is at the communication position 10B, the IC contact module 10 is moved toward the standby position 10A by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 24.

In addition, the card reader body 4 is provided with a detection mechanism for detecting that the IC contact module 10 is in the communication position 10B. The detection mechanism includes, for example, an optical sensor attached to the card reader body 4 and a detection piece formed on the spring holder 18, and detects that the IC contact module 10 is in the communication position 10B by shielding between a light emitting element and a light receiving element of the optical sensor by the detection piece of the spring holder 18.

On the other hand, when the card 2 is collected in the card reader 1, the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 moving toward the communication position 10B is further conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveying mechanism 9. If the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 moving toward the communication position 10B is further conveyed toward the rear side, the rotation stopper 19 is pressed by the card 2, and the IC contact module 10 moves from the communication position 10B toward the card discharge position 10C toward the rear side (see fig. 5B and 6 a). At this time, the card 2 abuts against the fixed stopper 18C until the IC contact module 10 moves from the communication position 10B to the card discharge position 10C, and the fixed stopper 18C is also pressed by the card 2.

When the card 2 is collected in the card reader 1, the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 moved to the card discharge position 10C is further conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveying mechanism 9. If the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 moved to the card discharge position 10C is further conveyed toward the rear side, the rotation stopper 19 rotates (topples) upward and rearward about the fixed shaft 30 as shown in fig. 6(B), and the card 2 passes rearward and on the lower side of the rotation stopper 19. That is, if the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 moved to the card discharge position 10C is further conveyed toward the rear side, the rotation stopper 19 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (counterclockwise direction) in fig. 5 and 6, and the card 2 passes toward the rear side and under the rotation stopper 19.

At this time, the roller 32 is in contact with the upper surface of the card 2, and the roller 32 rotates with the movement of the card 2.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 20 is set so that the rotation stopper 19 does not rotate until the IC contact module 10 abuts against the stopper 26 (that is, until the IC contact module 10 reaches the card discharge position 10C), even if the rotation stopper 19 is pressed by the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19. In addition, as shown in fig. 7, the rotation stopper 19 presses the card 2 passing to the rear side and on the lower side of the rotation stopper 19 toward the recovery box 5 by the urging force of the torsion coil spring 20. That is, the rotation stopper 19 presses the card 2 passing to the rear side and on the lower side of the rotation stopper 19 to the lower side. Specifically, the roller 32 contacts the upper surface of the card 2 and presses the card 2 to the lower side.

Further, a guide portion 40 is provided on the rear end side of the card conveying path 8, and the guide portion 40 protrudes downward from the upper side of the card conveying path 8 and guides the card 2 conveyed by the card conveying mechanism 9. That is, the guide portion 40 guides the card 2 toward the lower side of the card conveyance path 8. The guide 40 is formed integrally with a frame (not shown) of the card reader body 4 forming the card conveying path 8, and is formed at a position different from the IC contact module 10, the driving roller 14, and the pad roller 15 in the left-right direction. That is, the guide section 40, the IC contact module 10, the drive roller 14, and the pad roller 15 are arranged so as not to interfere with each other. Also, the guide portion 40 is formed at a position overlapping with the fixed stopper 18c in the front-rear direction when the IC contact module 10 is at the communication position 10B. More specifically, the guide portion 40 is disposed at a position overlapping the end of the card 2 in the front-rear direction, and the end of the card 2 abuts against the fixed stopper 18c when the IC contact module 10 is at the lowermost position in the vertical direction. The lower end of the guide portion 40 is disposed below the lower end of the fixed stopper 18C in the vertical direction when the IC contact module 10 is at the card ejection position 10C.

When the card 2 is collected in the card reader 1, when the card 2 abuts against the fixed stopper 18C and presses the fixed stopper 18C while the IC contact module 10 moves from the communication position 10B to the card ejection position 10C, a frictional force is generated between the fixed stopper 18C and the end of the card 2 abutting against the fixed stopper 18C, and the card 2 is not separated from the fixed stopper 18C, and the end of the card 2 is lifted up toward the upper side of the card conveyance path 8. At this time, the guide portion 40 abuts on the upper surface of the distal end side of the card 2, and presses the distal end of the card 2 lifted upward relatively downward toward the lower side than the lower end of the fixed stopper 18 c. The tip end of the card 2 is separated from the fixed stopper 18c by being guided by the guide portion 40 as the card 2 moves toward the rear side, and is guided toward the tip end side of the rotation stopper 19, i.e., toward the roller 32. As a result, the card 2 passes under the guide portion 40, and is discharged by the action of the rotation stopper 19 as described above and is reliably collected in the collection box.

(main effect of the present embodiment)

As described above, in the present embodiment, the IC contact module 10 moves to the standby position 10A, the communication position 10B, and the card discharge position 10C in a state where the posture of the IC contact module 10 with respect to the card conveyance path 8 is kept unchanged, the IC contact module 10 comes into contact with the stopper 25 and is separated from the card 2 disposed in the card conveyance path 8 at the standby position 10A, the external connection terminal 2a of the card 2 disposed in the card conveyance path 8 comes into contact with the IC contact spring 3 at the communication position 10B, and the IC contact module 10 comes into contact with the stopper 26 and is separated from the card 2 disposed in the card conveyance path 8 at the card discharge position 10C. In the present embodiment, if the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 moving to the communication position 10B is further conveyed to the rear side, the rotation stopper 19 is pressed by the card 2, and the IC contact module 10 moves from the communication position 10B to the card discharge position 10C toward the rear side. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the card 2 is transported to the rear side and the card 2 is collected, the IC contact springs 3 are separated from the IC contact springs 3 in accordance with the movement of the card 2. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the damage of the card 2 due to the IC contact springs 3 when the card 2 is collected.

Further, in the present embodiment, if the card 2 abutting against the rotation stopper 19 of the IC contact module 10 moving toward the card discharge position 10C is further conveyed toward the rear side, the rotation stopper 19 rotates upward and rearward about the fixed shaft 30, and the card 2 passes rearward and below the rotation stopper 19. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as compared with a case where the IC contact module 10 is moved until the card 2 can pass under the stopper fixed to the IC contact module 10, the card 2 can pass toward the rear side of the IC contact module 10 even if the movement amount of the IC contact module 10 is reduced. That is, in the present embodiment, even if the card 2 can be passed to the rear side of the IC contact module 10 in order to collect the card 2, the amount of movement of the IC contact module 10 can be reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the space for moving the IC contact module 10 can be reduced, and as a result, the card reader 1 can be downsized.

In the present embodiment, when the IC contact module 10 is in the communication position 10B, the fixed stopper 18c is disposed at a position where the rear end of the card 2 abuts against the fixed stopper 18 c. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the rotatable rotation stopper 19 is attached to the spring holder 18 in order to miniaturize the card reader 1, the card 2 can be reliably stopped at a predetermined position by the fixed stopper 18c when the external connection terminals 2a of the card 2 are brought into contact with the IC contact springs 3 to perform data communication. In the present embodiment, when the IC contact module 10 is at the card ejection position 10C, the fixed stopper 18C is disposed above the card 2, and therefore the fixed stopper 18C does not become an obstacle when the card 2 passes toward the rear side of the IC contact module 10.

In the present embodiment, the fixed stoppers 18c are formed on both sides of the rotation stopper 19 in the left-right direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, compared to the case where the fixed stopper 18c is formed on one side of the rotation stopper 19 in the left-right direction, when the external connection terminals 2a of the card 2 come into contact with the IC contact springs 3 to perform data communication, the inclination of the card 2 (specifically, the inclination of the card 2 with respect to the front-rear direction when viewed from the up-down direction) can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the roller 32 is mounted on the distal end side of the rotation stopper 19, and the roller 32 comes into contact with the upper surface of the card 2 when the card 2 passes under the rotation stopper 19 toward the rear side. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the card 2 can be prevented from being damaged by the rotation stopper 19 when the card 2 is collected. In the present embodiment, the rotation stopper 19 presses the card 2 passing under the rotation stopper 19 toward the rear side toward the recovery box 5, so that the rotation stopper 19 can reliably drop the card into the recovery box 5.

In the present embodiment, when the IC contact module 10 is pushed by the card 2 conveyed on the card conveying path 8 and moved from the communication position 10B to the card discharge position 10C, a frictional force acts between the fixed stopper 18C and the end of the card 2 abutting on the fixed stopper 18C so that the end of the card 2 abutting on the fixed stopper 18C is raised upward. Therefore, when the deformed card 2 is conveyed, there is a possibility that the fixed stopper 18c may be caught without being separated from the end of the card 2. In the present embodiment, the guide portion 40 is formed at a position overlapping with the fixed stopper 18c in the front-rear direction when the IC contact module 10 is at the communication position 10B. When the IC contact module 10 is at the card discharge position 10C, the lower end of the guide portion 40 is disposed below the lower end of the fixed stopper 18C in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the card 2 is conveyed to the position rearward of the fixed stopper 18c when the IC contact module 10 is at the communication position 10B, the guide portion 40 abuts against the upper surface of the distal end side of the card 2, and the distal end of the card 2 lifted upward by the frictional force is pushed downward to the position below the lower end of the fixed stopper 18 c. Therefore, the fixed stopper 18c is more reliably separated from the end of the card 2 in accordance with the movement of the card 2, and the card 2 can be discharged to the rear side of the IC contact module 10.

(other embodiments)

The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within a scope not changing the gist of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the guide mechanism that guides the IC contact module 10 is the parallel link mechanism 11. In addition, for example, the guide mechanism for guiding the IC contact module 10 may be configured by a guide groove formed in one of the frame of the card reader body 4 and the spring holder 18, and a pin formed in the other of the frame of the card reader body 4 and the spring holder 18 and engaged with the guide groove. In this case, the IC contact module 10 is guided toward the standby position 10A, the communication position 10B, and the card discharge position 10C by the guide grooves and the pins.

In the above embodiment, the roller 32 is attached to the distal end side of the rotation stopper 19, but the roller 32 may not be attached to the distal end side of the rotation stopper 19. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the fixed stoppers 18c are formed on both sides of the rotation stopper 19 in the left-right direction, but the fixed stoppers 18c may be formed on one side of the rotation stopper 19 in the left-right direction. Further, the spring holder 18 may not be formed with the fixed stopper 18 c.

In the above embodiment, the rotation stopper 19 is urged by the torsion coil spring 20, but the rotation stopper 19 may be urged by another spring member such as a tension coil spring. Further, in the above embodiment, the IC contact module 10 is biased by the torsion coil spring 24, but the IC contact module 10 may be biased by another spring member such as a tension coil spring. In the above embodiment, the card 2 is a vinyl chloride card having a thickness of about 0.7 to 0.8mm, but the card 2 may be a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) card having a thickness of about 0.18 to 0.36mm, or a paper card having a predetermined thickness.

In the above embodiment, the guide 40 is formed integrally with the frame of the card reader body 4, but a roller held by the frame of the card reader body 4 may be provided as the guide 40. In this case, since friction generated when the card 2 passes under the guide portion 40 can be reduced, the card 2 can be prevented from being damaged.

Description of the reference numerals

1 card reader (IC card reader)

2 card

2a external connection terminal

3IC contact spring

5 recovery box

7 inserting opening

8 card conveyance route

9 card transport mechanism

10IC contact module

10A standby position

10B communication location

10C card ejection position

11 parallel connecting rod mechanism (guiding mechanism)

18 spring retainer

18c fixed stopper

19 rotation stopper

19A latched position

20 torsion coil spring (stopper force application component)

21 arm (first arm)

22 arm (second arm)

24 torsion coil spring (Module force application component)

25 stopper (first stopper)

26 stopper (second stopper)

32 rollers

40 guide part

X card conveying direction

Front side of X1

Rear side of X2

Width direction of Y card

Thickness direction of Z card

Z1 first direction side

Z2 second direction side.

Claims

1. An IC card reader of a contact type having an IC contact spring which comes into contact with an external connection terminal of an IC chip formed on a surface of a card,

the IC card reader has a configuration in which a side of the IC card reader where an insertion port of the card is formed is a front side, an opposite side is a rear side, a side of the IC card reader in a thickness direction of the card inserted from the insertion port is a first direction side, and the opposite side is a second direction side:

a card conveyance path on which the card inserted from the insertion port is conveyed;

a card conveyance mechanism that conveys the card on the card conveyance path;

an IC contact module having the IC contact spring;

a guide mechanism that guides the IC contact module so as to move the IC contact module while keeping a posture of the IC contact module with respect to the card conveyance path unchanged; and

a module force application member that applies a force to the IC contact module toward a front side;

a first stopper that limits a moving range of the IC contact module toward a front side; and

a second stopper that limits a moving range of the IC contact module toward a rear side,

the guide mechanism guides the IC contact module so as to move the IC contact module toward a standby position, a communication position, and a card ejection position,

in the standby position, the IC contact module is brought into contact with the first stopper by the urging force of the module urging member and is separated from the card disposed in the card conveyance path,

the external connection terminal of the card arranged in the card conveyance path is in contact with the IC contact spring at the communication position,

in the card discharge position, the IC contact module abuts against the second stopper and is separated from the card arranged in the card conveyance path,

the IC contact module in the standby position and the IC contact module in the card discharge position are arranged on the first direction side of the IC contact module in the communication position,

the IC contact module includes:

a block-shaped spring holder that holds the IC contact spring;

a rotation stopper that is attached to a rear end side of the spring holder and is rotatable in an axial direction in which a width direction of the card orthogonal to a carrying direction of the card and a thickness direction of the card is rotatable; and

a stopper urging member that urges the rotation stopper toward a closed position where the rotation stopper protrudes from the spring holder toward the second direction side to close the card conveying path,

if the rear end of the card being carried toward the rear side by the card carrying mechanism abuts against the rotation stopper of the IC contact module at the standby position, the rotation stopper is pressed by the card, the IC contact module moves from the standby position toward the communication position toward the rear side,

if the card abutting against the rotation stopper of the IC contact module that has moved to the communication position is further conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveying mechanism, the rotation stopper is pressed by the card, the IC contact module moves toward the rear side from the communication position to the card discharge position,

if the card abutting against the rotation stopper of the IC contact module that has moved to the card discharge position is further conveyed toward the rear side by the card conveying mechanism, the rotation stopper moves toward the first direction side and the rear side, and the card passes toward the rear side and on the second direction side of the rotation stopper.

2. An IC card reader according to claim 1,

the guide mechanism is a parallel linkage having a first arm and a second arm,

the first arm is rotatably connected to a front end side of the spring holder,

the second arm is rotatably connected to a rear end side of the spring holder.

3. An IC card reader according to claim 1,

a fixed stopper is formed at a rear end side of the spring holder, the fixed stopper protruding toward the second direction side,

a protruding amount of the fixed stopper toward the second direction is formed smaller than a protruding amount of the rotation stopper toward the second direction when in the close position,

the fixed stopper is disposed at a position where a rear end of the card can abut against the fixed stopper when the IC contact module is in the communication position,

the fixed stopper is disposed closer to the first direction side than the card when the IC contact module is at the card discharge position.

4. An IC card reader according to claim 2,

5. An IC card reader according to claim 3,

the fixed stoppers are formed on both sides of the rotation stopper in the width direction of the card.

6. An IC card reader according to claim 4,

7. An IC card reader according to any one of claims 3 to 6,

the card conveyance path has a guide portion that protrudes from the first direction side toward the second direction side and guides the card being conveyed,

the guide portion is disposed at a position overlapping the fixing stopper in the card carrying direction when the IC contact module is at the communication position,

an end portion of the guide portion on the second direction side is arranged on the second direction side with respect to an end portion of the fixing stopper on the second direction side when the IC contact module is at the card discharge position,

the card passes through the second direction side of the guide portion while the IC contact module moves from the communication position to the card discharge position.

8. An IC card reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

a roller is attached to a distal end side of the rotation stopper, and the roller is rotatable in an axial direction in which the card is rotated in a width direction.

9. An IC card reader according to claim 7,

10. An IC card reader according to any one of claims 1 to 6, 9,

the IC card reader has a card collection box disposed on the rear side of the IC contact module and on the second direction side of the card conveyance path,

the rotation stopper presses the card passing toward the second direction side of the rotation stopper toward the recovery box by the urging force of the stopper urging member.

11. An IC card reader according to claim 7,

12. An IC card reader according to claim 8,